Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-12-15

thought no more Of his personal appearance
than did his hearers at Ottawa when he spoke
in his sbirt sleeves was with him IN the
Office of the Illinois State Journal when the
news Of his nomination to the presidency was
rrceived. He seemed to be very deeply i'm
pressed and somewhat embarrassed Rlslng
IRON his chair he went round and shook
everybody by the hand without saying a
word. and We then passed out into the open
sir Then Mr.. Lincoln said: i believe
will 20 home and tell my wife about this
Mrs. Lincoln had displayed more zeal in re-
e-ard to the presidential nomination than her
husband had.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE WAR.
son Feb. II, 1861, the president elect made
\ rather sad and at the same time touching
speech on his leaving Springfield to assume
his duties as president. He spoke of the ter
Iible responsibilities which were about to be
laid upon him and how he needed the prayers
and announcement of his old friends. did
not see Mr.. Lincoln again until September,
1862, when called upon him at the Soldiers
home. He inquired very particularly re-
garding the political situation in Illinois.
replied that we would carry northern Illinois.
But how about the central and southern sec
tionsF he asked I said that they were
doubtful will never forget the indescrib-
able expression of sadness which came over
his face at this statement. 1t was just after
Pope's defeat at the second battle of Bull Run
and the people in Illinois were feeling very
blue. I did not tell Mr.. Lincoln how bad the
situation really was. received an appoint
ment in the registers Office of the treasury.
It was my duty to record the certificates Of
indebtedness which were given for war
material 1 had the entree at the White
House and called frequently for social chat
with Mr. Lincoln. l would now and then
give him a good story that had run across.
He always relished these, but at the same
time he seemed wrapped in gloom, in fact
gloom seemed to drip off from him. Not
withstanding this he would tell stories with
his old time feTvoT.
zone evening I called at the White House
and found that in consequence of having a
very severe toothache Mr. Lincoln was not
attending to any official business, but was
supposed 10 be attending to his toothache.
Upon closer inquiry and search, however,
found him in one of the upper rooms. Several
of his special friends, members of congress
and others, were seated about On the wall
was large war map, and Mr.. Lincoln, not
withstanding his toothache, was describing
certain campaigns AsI entered remember
his saying: Gentlemen, put no faith in this
Yazoo expedition. l am afraid they viii
come out just where they started from. 1t
reminds me of the old farmer out in Illinois
who was troubled by the pigs getting into his
garden He thought he had closed up every
hole in the fence, but he found, upon looking
more closely, that there was hollow log
through which the old SOW and pigs walked
very comfortably into his garden He then
rolled this log over so it lay nearly parallel
with the fence The next time the old sow
and her family entered the log she came out
about where she started from, and SO it will
be with this Yazoo river expedition-it will
come out on the same side of the log The
morning following the night of Mr.. Lincoln's
assassination my landlady came to my door
very early and through her sobs said, Some
thing terrible has happened. Mr.. Lincoln has
been shot, 1 dressed myself in great haste
and hurried down town, when by degrees
learned the events of that terrible night
&C. D. Z, 'sn Letter in BROOKLYN Eagle.